The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1887-12-17
Congressional.
(sy telegraph to the Ash.viIls Citizen.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-HoUsK-
Mr.. Hatch, of Missouri, submitted
concurrent resolution that when the
two Houses adjourn on Monday,
Dec 10Th, they stand adjourned un-
Til Thursday, January 5th. Reed
of Maine inquired the reason for the
submission of the resolution. Hatch
replied that it was the usual resolus
ton brought in at the first session
of Congress.
The House had been in session
.ince the first Monday in December.
1t was well known that nothing had
bOen accom- plished. The House
was waiting for the Speaker to an
nounce committees, and he (Hatch)
was satisfied from his personal
knowledge, and what he had seen
ofthe occupation of Speakers time
by members interested in commit
tee assignments that it was impoSsi
BILE that the committees could ba
announced until the holiday recess,
He had submitted the resolution as
muoh in the interest of the public
bu.i ines5 as for the comfort and con-
veEience of the Speaker. Reed says
tHat the peculiar condition Of the
business affairs of the country rem
dered the action which had been
taken or rather the non action that
had bsen suffered by the Demo
cratic side of the House, a matter Of
legitimate Comment, both here and
before the country. Take it all in
all, it was without precedent. Many
changes in the rules Of the House
had heen suggested but had not
been acted upon; and yet it was
proposed that the House adjourn
for the holidays, and commence
after receas where it had been the
custom to begin at the opening Of
the session. If there wero no mat
ters of public interest before tho
country such course might awaken
only passing comment, bat to day
Congress was pressed upon by
serious public duty; which was tbs
reduction Of the surplus which was
coming into the Treasury in man.
ner calculated under the manage
ment of the Treasury Department
to be an EN- mbarrassment to the
finances of the country. All were
agreed--at least on the Republican
side-that this surplus should be
reduced, and the Republicans stood
ready now to make one reduction
which the other side was agreed,
and that was in reference to the to
bacco tax. he hoped that op2 3rtu
nifty would be given them by the
powers that be, or were to be, TO
vote thereon and show to the cou,-
try some proper dis0ositiOn in this
regard. If the goAtlsmcn on the
other side found il somewhat diff
cult to arrange themselves a|o side
of the recent message whieh had
been sent them, that the Repnbli>
leans could well understand and
could give their assurance of most
profound sympathy. [Laugh.er]
The III nesRage was to some Democrats
a summons from very great ways
off, and it required that they should
traverse a very good distance before
they could get alongside of their
pioneer brothers at the end of the
avenue.
If time was wanted for that pur
pose he hoped that tho gentleman
+ from Missouri would frankly say 80.
Laughter.] IT the gentlemen on
the other side were in grave doubt
; how they should comply with the
suggestions of the message, if after
!, they had made up their minds in
the interest of moderation and res
form and the most advanced OF
: them would be content with the dOS
struction of a few of our industries
and they peeded time to select those
they saw fiji to destroy, that would
} be ground for this motion, and he
hoped the gentleman would say il
/ that was the reason underneath It
! Mr., Hatch said he had hoped thai